Tremie.



Patented Oct. 1, l9l8.

IIAIIIIII/lI/r ms NORRIS n'zn-Rs m. mwmuma, msmm: mu. D c.

out of the water, replugging, refilling with RUDOLPH J. WIG, OF WASHINGTON, ms'rnior or COL MBIA.

TREMIE.

1,2eo,e15.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented c1115. 1, 1918.

1 Application filed October 12, 1917. Serial No. 196,216.

ments in Tremies; and I hereby declare-that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference" being. had tothe accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecificatio'n. 1

1 This invention is a novel improvement in means for placing concrete in position under water, and has particular reference to the machines, commonly known as tremies, whereby the concrete mlxture s conducted 1 from above the surface of-the water to. the

desiredp'oint beneaththesame. a a Y A tremie, ordinarily consists of, pipe,

1 usually from 8 to 14 inches in diameterand either 1 0f. .uniformf or slightly tapered bore, and from 10, to feet in length, depending uponthe depth of the water in which the concrete is to-be placed. The lower'endof such pipeis sometimes provided with agate or valve, or. aplug is placed in the pipe, to prevent. the concrete mixture segregating while 1 passing through i the pipe, and to cause itto force the waterout of the pipe ahead of the concrete "mixturewhenthe first charge of such mixture is placed in the tremie.v After suchtremie has been-filled with concrete it is lowered into, the water until its lower end rests on the bottom withinthe form wherein the concrete is to be placed; The tremie-is then slowlygiraised, an inch or so,: until the; concrete mixture starts iJO'.fiOW out of it and then concrete mixture is fed into the upper end of the has been deposited-in the form. Great care must be exercised during this operation not to lift 1 the tremie so high from the bottom asto disturb the balance of pressure which would cause the concrete mixture toflow out with such velocity that the entire charge in 'ing its; lower end and the tremie might escape; and the tremie could not be then refilled without 1 lifting it tremie, or while moving the tremie from place to place in the form, and which does not require the careful balancing ofpressures of the mass of concrete inside the V tremie and of the water at the discharge end thereof in order to insure the desired flow of the concrete mixture.

I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which conventionally illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, and an understanding of such construction will enable others skilled in the art to adapt and use the invention. The features of the invention for which protection is desired are epitomized inthe claims following such description.

I11 said drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a longitudinal tional elevation-of invention. 1 i a 1 Fig. 2 is'an enlarged detailvertical section of the feedscrew operating means.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. J

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transv rse section on the line l -4, Fig. 1. F 1

In the example shown the tremie com-. prises a pipe 1, which may be of any desired length and internal diameter, and is prefer ablyconnected at its upper "end to a hopper vertical sec- .a-tremie embodying my 2 of any desired form and size into which the concrete mixture can be fed to keep the pipe 1 filled therewith; 1

Extending transversely across the hopper is a supporting bar 3 to which the upper end of a shaft G is rotatably .connectedgsaid shaftpreferably depending through thebar andhopper and extending axially of and into'the pipe 1. Any suitable means may be provided for rotating this shaft 6.

1, As indicated in Figs. 1 to 3 the shaft 6 has a, gear 6 on itsupper end, above bar 3, which gear is keyed to the shaft; and said gear and shaftmay be supported by ball bearings 6 upon the bar 3 'so that the shaft may-be turned with less friction. 1 1

The gear 6 is preferably a. worm gear and may mesh with a worm 5 on a shaft 5 which may be journaled in brackets 41 on the bar 8. Shaft 5 may be driven in any suitable manner either manuallyuor by. power actuated means as desired; andis shown as provided with a crank or handle 5? on its outer end by which it can be manually turned.

Connected to the lower end of the shaft 6 is'a discharge or packing screw 7, which may be of any suitable construction and have one or more flights. The screw flights should be sufliciently extended to substana tially close the lower end of the pipe, when V1QWeCl from above (see Fig. l); and Silld screw not only acts as a means to discharge material from the pipe, but also as a means toretam the material in the chamber or;

space in the pipe above the screwand below the-hopper,unless the shaft is rotated.

If desired the lower end of the shaft 6 might be stepped in a transverse bar in the lower end of the pipe, but this is not essential as the screw could be made of a diameter to fit and to center itself within the end of the pipe. However, if desired, such a bar may be placed in the pipe as shown at 7 7 in Fig. l; andif the tremie and shaft 6 are-very longladditional bracing-bars 7 b may be placed at intervals along the length of the shaft as indicated in Fig. 1.

If desired the part of the shaft in the space above the packing screw may be incasedby a sleeve 8 which can be attached at its upper end to the bar 3 and at its lower end if desired to one of the transverse bars 7 within the pipe. Thesleeve'8 need notrotate and will prevent contact of the concrete mixture .in the pipe with the shaft 6.

In using this device the tremie pipe 1 is first filled with a concrete mixture of the desired consistency, the concrete mixture being retained thereinby the screw 7 in the lower end ofthe pipe, so that it cannot escape therefrom in mass. The tremie is then lower'ed" into the water, in the usual manner, and when in proper position the concrete mixture can'be discharged therefrom regularly and at willas desired by rotating the shaftl, thereby operating the screw 7 and discharging the concrete mixture from the pipe'as rapidly as desired;- the flow of the concrete'mix'ture being-controlled and regulated bythe speed of rotation of the screw;

By this novel means it is possible not only to feed the concretemixture uniformly and a t-will, but also to pack the concrete, if d'e siredyas it is discharged, as the action of the screw forcibly expelling the concrete mix turefrom the tremie can be used to pack the concrete beneaththe tremi e.

With this device the concrete mixture,

when of prop'erconsistency, cannot escape in mass, or in a rush from the tremie; but can be fed therefrom as desired, according to the 7 speed of rotation of the screw. Y

The amount and weight of the superposed mass of concrete mixture in the tremie above the packing screw may vary but the con-.

crete mixture can be discharged at will uni tremie; and a regulable flowof concrete inix ture therefrom, independently of the amount of concrete/mixture in thetremie above the control device or screw and regardless of the length of thetremie i 'WhatI claim is: a

1 In a tremie, the combination of a pipe, a shaft therein, a screw in the lower part of the pipe connectedw ith said shaft, a

sleeve surrounding the shaft above the screw,

and means for rotatingsaid shaft. I

2. In a tremie, the combination ofa pipe, a shaft therein, a hopper at the upper end of the pipe,-a screw in the lower part of the pipe connected with said shaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaft above the screw, and

means for rotating said shaft.-

3. In a tremie, the combination of a pipe, ahopper at the upper endthereof, a shaft disposed axially of said' pipe, a packing screw inthe lower partflof the pipe connected with said shaft, for controlling the escape of concrete mixture from the pi e, a sleevesurrounding the shaft above t e screw, and means forrotating said 'shaft.= 4, Meansfor placing cohcreteunder water, consisting of a conduit having a space for the reception of concrete mixture,;; and means below such space and adjacent the lower end of the conduit for controlling the escape of the mixture therefromi 5. 1 Means for placing concrete under water,

consisting of a pipe having a space for: the

reception of concrete mixture and means' adjacent the lower end of the pipe and be low said space for supporting the concrete mixture therein and controlling the escape of such mixture therefrom. i:

6. Meansfor placing concrete under water consisting of a pipe having a space for the reception of concrete mixture and means adjacent the lower end of a the pipe and below said space for expelling mixture therefrom while supporting superposed mixture.

-57. Means for placing concreteunderwater, comprising ahopper, a tubular conductor having afspace below the hopper for the reception of concrete mixture, means below said space for supporting the concrete mix ture-therein and controlling the flowof the mixture therefrom, and means foropera-ting said controlling means. 3 a

85A tremie for placingjconcreteunder water,*consisting of a pipe having-aspace for the reception of concrete mixture and means below such space for expelling the concrete mixture therefrom. a

9. In a tremie for placing concrete under water, the combination of a pipe having a space for the reception of concrete mixture, and a screw below the space for controlling the flow of concrete mixture therefrom while a supporting the superposed mixture therein.

trolling the escape of concrete mixture therefrom and means for operating said screw.

11. In a tremie for placing concrete under water, the combination of a pipe having a space for the reception of concrete mixture, a hopper at the upper end thereof, and a screw in the pipe below said space for controlling the escape of concrete mixture therefrom While supporting the superposed mixture therein, and means for operating said screw.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my own I a my signature.

RUDOLPH J. WIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 011 Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

